Powder Buoy pop: Snow could arrive Tuesday at high elevations

Photo: Powder Buoy

PARK CITY, Utah — Though last week’s first snow prediction didn’t amount to anything, local forecaster Powder Buoy has spread news of a possible dusting to a few inches of snow on Tuesday.

Weather in the Cottonwoods and at higher elevations on Tuesday and Wednesday calls for daytime highs in the high 30s and low 40s, with overnight lows of 32 and 34 degrees, paired with scattered thunderstorms.

Though the model shows totals near 15 inches for the event, the mean lines show a potential for up to six inches with a few inches likely.

 

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The Powder Buoy theory is this: Weather around the planet is connected, and storms that form or stream across the Pacific in the winter happen to cruise above Hawaii, bringing low-pressure systems and weather that will eventually hit the mainland. NOAA’s ocean buoys, managed by the National Buoy Data Center, provide 24/7 data on various metrics, including significant wave height. A spike in wave height signals low pressure, often indicating incoming storms. It typically takes two weeks for such weather to reach the western U.S. from the buoys. While not perfect, this system serves as an early warning for storms. High-pressure systems in Utah can redirect storms northward, but the buoy’s pattern offers useful insights for planning ski trips.